Meet Khalid Zidan, Entrepreneur

Khalid Zidan is a blogger and entrepreneur. He decided to share his experiences to help people who are struggling in their lives and want to achieve what they've been dreaming of. He's founded serial websites focusing on a range of topics including SEO, freelancers, market review, affiliate market, dropshipping, and more.

Learn more by visiting his website, SuccessEntrepreneur.org. You can also connect with Khalid on Facebook.

1. When did you realize that entrepreneurship was the right career path for you?

When I started to realize I would never be a free man in a 9-5 job.

2. What are some of the ways that you help people who want to make money online?

I believe anyone can earn money online: all you need is a device with Internet access. That's it. I have tried many different ways, including courses, training, and mentors. Most of them were such a failure. However, some worked! And I earned money from them, so I am teaching these successful methods to others so that they do not have to repeat my same mistakes.

3. Why is blogging so important for people who want to start their own business?

Blogging is your voice--it's like your business card. If you are not blogging, you do not have an opinion, and you will not be seen as trustworthy. Come on, even Sir Richard Branson is blogging! Everyone should. Put your voice out there.

4. What are some of the biggest and/or most common mistakes you see people making in starting a business?

Listening to too much advice--or to none at all! I have met aspiring businesspeople telling me that they have read 50 books last year! And I ask them, what did you learn? They do not even remember! So what's the point? My advice will be: choose a very small niche that you like and master it; start small, and then expand your niche while you are growing.

5. What projects are you currently working on, and do you have anything new in the works that you're excited about?

I am working right now on mastering Kindle books and e-dropshipping.

Thanks, Khalid!

Meet John Michaels, Founder of Viewacam.com

Viewacam.com is a new website where watch webcams from all over the world, or broadcast your own webcam, too. They aim to feature a variety of webcams showing beautiful places in the world both big and small--from cams in urban settings to backyard nature cams. Our interview is with John Michaels, the website's founder.

1. What gave you the idea to start ViewaCam.com?

I was looking at Earthcam and thought, what a great idea! But I noticed there were a lot of ads and popups on all the pages. Their site is inundated with ads, and we are more about the broadcaster and the viewers. While we do indeed have ads, they are limited to only the bottom of the page, and the site remains nice and clean for viewers to look at the bottom ads only if they want to.

We have to have ads to pay for the site; it's a must, but once we get enough users on there, I may put up a poll asking if users would rather donate a few dollars here and there through a PayPal donate button rather than having ads on the site, and then it would be 100% ad free.

Our site is very easy to navigate, too. It also has a built in chat system that works in two ways. You can either interact with your watchers by chatting with them, or you can use the chat box only for yourself to describe what they may be seeing. You can give viewers details about what they are looking at, especially if there is something that is changing like maybe a parade going by or something like that.

2. Do you stream your own webcam, or have you done this in the past?

Yes, I try to stream my own cam as much as possible, and you'll see mine listed as Admin. The cams use your screen name you create once you join as your ID.

Don't forget to name your broadcast which is right on top of your chat screen, too, before you press start on the broadcast. Then you'll have your broadcast name and screen name, IE: Chardon Ohio - Broadcast by Admin.

3. I think there is a lot of diversity out there when it comes to webcams, and I especially like ones that feature animals or the ocean. What are some of your own favorite webcam subjects?

I personally like the webcams that are around neighborhoods. As I described above, you can see some really neat stuff like parades, people enjoying life and everyday living, and by being able to go from an Ohio neighborhood to a California neighborhood, you can see the differences of culture and ways that people live.

Also, at Christmas time, there is nothing more beautiful than someone who may decorate their home with lights and things like that, which just really brings out that holiday feel. I say this because there are a lot of people that are disabled and can no longer take a drive or a walk just to gaze at the lights in the neighborhood at Christmas, and enjoying webcam feeds can be their way to go out into the world and really look at things from all over our little blue marble we call home.

4. For webcam owners, what are the benefits of making their webcam stream available on your website?

Well, for one, the site is well-designed and easy to navigate. Secondly, again, no intrusive ads, and thirdly and probably most importantly, this isn't just another webcam site in my opinion. It is a webcam community. That's really a big difference even though it doesn't sound like it is.

You can befriend people here, send them messages, comment on their photos (yes, there's a photo section, too), and chat with them in their own chatroom. There is also an events section where broadcasters can post something special coming up so people can look forward to it; broadcasters can use the events section also even if there is no special event, just to let people know when they will be going on air. It is really much more than just a webcam site. You can make good friends here.

We also are very responsive to our broadcasters and will protect them if they are having an issue with an abusive guest, which hasn't happened yet, thank goodness, because we are a brand new site, but you just never know in the future what will come! I have been to a lot of different chats across the web and have learned a lot about what we won't allow here.

5. For people who want to set up their own webcam for the first time, do you have any advice?

For first time broadcasters, I would offer this advice: Have fun with this! Set aside at least a few hours of relaxation time and make sure you spread the word about your webcam to your friends and tell them to come on over and hang out, and before you know it, you'll have new people coming in to see your webcam.

Decide if you want to have it on 24 hours a day or just a few hours a day. If you have an older PC not being used, I'd say set it up, hook up a cam, point it at what you want to show, and let it go 24/7!

Remember, finally, to be friendly when you have a guest come in. They will ask questions about your cam, where it is located, what it is showing, stuff like that, so be ready with that information. Friendliness is really the key to it all.

Even though the community is small right now, everyone has to start somewhere, right? We hope to be a thriving, friendly, warm, and welcoming community that shows the world, YOUR world, through your cam's eye! Come join us, won't you?

Thanks, John!

M Model and Talent Agency Review

M Model and Talent Agency is one of the hottest agencies in Canada. Their clients regularly find work in print ads as well as commercials, and a variety of companies come to them for their model/talent needs. In fact, if you want to find someone to hire or if you want to become a model, you can learn more by visiting the agency's website: http://www.mmodels.ca.

Models and actors represented by M Model and Talent have landed a lot of really interesting work recently. The agency is based in Toronto, and they pick up work both locally and nationally (and sometimes internationally, too!). Really they have worked with many very famous brands that are known all over the world.

Some of the latest gigs completed by models/talent from the agency include a Bank of Montreal commercial, a Jolly Rancher commercial, and a music video for a song by Future featuring Drake.

Here is a great example of some work done by two models from M Model and Talent. It's a commercial for Rogers Blue Jays Fathers Day promo.

The best place to keep up with the work done by talent represented by M Models is to follow their blog at http://www.mmodels.typepad.com.

Why Are Web Directories So Important to the Internet?

The following is a guest post from the GreedyGrab social web directory.

Web directories play a very important role in the success of every website. These directories provide the online presence that business owners mostly need for their online business. A web directory, also known as a link directory, is focused on linking with other websites as well as on categorizing the links. If you are thinking that a web directory is a search engine, well, it's not. It is not capable of displaying web pages based on keywords, but it lists websites by category or subcategory.

When you use web directories, especially in your marketing strategy, it will be easier for you to find your way toward success though the market is getting more competitive. As you all know, there really are lots of online business present, big and small businesses, which are competing for the attention of the customers. Web directories are very important since they will provide you with a greater chance of standing out from your competitors. The following are some of the reasons why web directories are important in business and within the internet as a whole:

Generate Traffic
An extra advertising technique comes with more traffic. Through web directories, you will be able to reach potential customers who will soon visit your website, thus helping in increasing the traffic on your website.

Advertising
If your online business did not work on the first attempt, web directories will be very helpful if you want to advertise your business together with your great offerings. Directories are considered the most efficient way for you to market your online business conveniently. Web directories are offering the most convenient access going to the large market. This will greatly help you in attracting more and more customers to visit your website. When you include web directories in your marketing plan, it will enable you to do everything out of your marketing strategy.

Reach Target Market
With the use of web directories, it will be easier for you to reach your target customer and market without the need to exert more sweat and effort. You will no longer be required to break a sweat just to reach the customers that you desire. Directories help in indexing websites through certain categories that can be found by your customers easily. Once they search for your services and products, they can find them easily, and they will not feel bored because of lots of irrelevant information provided.

Web directories are not only important in business but in the World Wide Web as a whole. Without web directories, do you think your business will be recognized, and do you think there will be websites that will be linked to each other? Although you have an online business and you are using different marketing techniques, sooner or later your website will no longer be visited unless you have included web directories in your marketing plan. This will allow you to gain more customers, traffic, and sales. Your online presence will surely direct you to the path of success--just make sure that it is within a web directory.

Meet Ryan Eagle, Entrepreneur

Ryan Eagle is a successful serial entrepreneur who got his start building websites and selling virtual items for Diablo II. With his network of websites, he began expanding into AdSense and affiliate marketing income. After many years of running online businesses, he shifted into importing/exporting through his business, Response Commodities, and he continues to pursue other "tangible" business opportunities. Ryan also has a strong interest in doing philanthropic work.

1. When you first became interested in computers, what was it specifically about the internet that made you direct your efforts there (rather than, say, writing software)?

To be honest, I don't know what exactly attracted me to the internet, computers in general, or business! I was generally a normal kid otherwise--I played sports, rode bikes, loved camping, and preferred to be outside. I've been using computers since Windows 3.2 although I remember I really gained more interest when I was in 4th grade. Since I was a young kid, my role model was Bill Gates, and I always admired his work and what he was able to accomplish from his life. When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade I had dreams of building my own software company called "EagleCOM."

When I moved back to Chicago from Texas, I remember the first winter I endured and I couldn't go outside. I spent the entire winter on the computer learning the ins and outs. When I was in 5th grade, I made my first website from scratch by reading HTML for Dummies. When I was 14, I made my first money online. When I was 16, I was catapulted into massive success from websites that I had created and never looked back.

2. Why did you decide to shift your career from affiliate marketing and ad-based income into a "tangible business"?

I started doing affiliate marketing in 2005, and after closing my last affiliate marketing based business I wanted a challenge. I didn't want to default to my comfort zone knowing that it would make me quick money fast. I wanted to develop new businesses in new sectors that were a challenge to me; I wanted something new; I needed a new challenge.

3. In your experience, what are some of the challenges for someone with a long history in online business to move into a very different field?

For me, the biggest challenge was basically starting from scratch and learning something from the ground up. I learned huge lessons from my last companies that I pulled into new businesses, but when transferring to completely new sectors, it was quite the challenge. At times, I wanted to jump back and get right into affiliate marketing again for the quick money, but I remained determined. I refused to give up, and like every time in the past, it paid off.

4. How do you currently balance your time between your companies and your philanthropic work?

To be honest, I could do a lot more than I currently do. I take the easy road out by doing things like donating my money rather than actually getting involved. Instead of committing funds to specific foundations, I've been trying to invest into individuals by paying for scholarships and things along those lines. This question reminds me that I need to get a lot more involved, both financially and physically.

5. You describe materialism as being a good motivator, but what would you say keeps you grounded--or to put it another way, what makes you happy at the very end of the night when reflect on how your day went?

Material things are far less important to me than they used to be. At the end of the day, all of those flashy things are simply metal objects or clothing with cool symbols on them--they come and go, just like money itself. Nowadays, I live a lot more modestly than I used to, and I prefer to keep a lower profile than I ever have because all of that does nothing but build a false ego. At the same time, I don't deprive myself of the rewards of working hard--it's just not as important to me.

To keep grounded, I pray to God and give him thanks for anything that I've been given. I also value my relationships with others far higher than anything material. My family, my girlfriend, and my true friends mean more to me than anything I can buy. They are the ones that stick through the tough times--and like any person I’ve endured those times, too.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me! I really appreciate the opportunity.

Thanks, Ryan!

Meet Ritoban Chakrabarti, Author and Internet Marketer

Ritoban Chakrabarti has loved the internet since he first got an internet connection in 2005. He studied computer science in Chandigarh, and he became a full-time internet marketer in 2008. More recently, he published his first novel, When She Smiled. Learn more about Ritoban's fiction writing at www.WhenSheSmiled.com, and on Goodreads. And learn more about Ritoban on his website.

1. How did you first become interested in internet marketing?

It all started when I was in college pursuing my engineering degree. We had a lot of free time, and while most of my friends would go out to parties, I was never too fond of partying. I decided to sit at home and work on my passion, which at that time was making websites.

There's something about making websites that brought out my creative side, and I loved it. Soon, I started freelancing and started making websites and doing graphic designing for clients. I started making a proper livelihood out of it, and as soon as college was over, I got more and more into it.

Soon, I realized I was taking on more projects that I could handle, and that's when I started my first company. It's been an amazing five-year journey since then, and we have done some remarkable things in the field of internet marketing.

2. Have you always had an interest in writing and publishing fiction?

I used to be an avid reader as a child, but since college my reading habits had been suppressed because I got busy with engineering studies and my internet marketing work. But recently, I started reading again, and I had an epiphany a few months ago about writing a novel, and I followed that dream.

To be completely honest, it has been on my dream board for a long time, but I seriously considered it only a few months ago.

3. What's your novel about?

The novel is about a teenager who grows up in the mountains of Shimla, in India. It describes how he meets a girl in a school and falls in love, and how she changes his perception of feelings, hope, and life altogether. It's a very simple story, but I believe everyone can relate to it because we have all gone through first love, and we know it changes our life.

4. How are you utilizing your background in marketing and entrepreneurship to promote your novel?

I noticed a big trend in the publishing industry, especially in India. Most of the authors here don't do much marketing of their books. Essentially they are authors, not marketers. My marketing background helps me to claim that uncharted territory because I know how to promote any product using websites, online ads, and email marketing.

I'm using all my knowledge and more for marketing this novel. Since I have about three months more before the launch of the book, I'm pretty sure I can create enough buzz around the book to get it on some bestseller lists.

5. What's your advice to independent entrepreneurs--and/or indie authors/artists!--who are facing a lack of encouragement from family, friends, etc in their pursuit of their goals?

To be honest, I didn't have much support from my family when I told them I wouldn't pursue an MBA degree, and that I wanted to open my own company. They were very reluctant, but I was more stubborn than they could handle. I kept following my passion, and slowly they got to be a part of my success. Now, they proudly tell everyone they meet about what I do and how I got there.

I have always believed in "hustling." No matter how adverse your situation may be, if you're somebody who can hustle long and hard at what they believe in, no one will be able to stop you. Your success is in your hands. Your failure is also in your hands. So keep hustling, and you'll see how each of your goals will keep becoming a reality.

Thanks, Ritoban!

Introducing Listicle, for Making and Sharing Creative Lists

Listicle is a fun site where you can compile and share information by creating your own lists--and you can explore lists made by other people. The site is largely visual as many people choose to share a lot of pictures and videos in their lists, but you can also make text-based lists and/or lists which consist of a series of links. In fact, the site designers define "a listicle" as "a form of writing that uses a list as its thematic structure, but is fleshed out with sufficient information to be published as an article."

Thinking about Facebook and other forms of social media, I find that I have a strong tendency to click on links where people are sharing lists. It's also a time-honored technique for bloggers: who doesn't love to read a helpful list of tips, resources, etc? Listicle simply takes our love for lists and makes it super-easy to create lists, share lists, and find unique lists on a variety of topics.

In exploring the site myself, I found it to be a fun way to learn new things and get ideas. One of the first lists that caught my eye was a list of ten creative business cards, including a card for a map store that folds up like a tiny road map, and a card for a roofing company designed to look like a shingled roof.

And here's an example of a thoughtful text-based list, where the list author shares several of her favorite quotes by authors who inspire her.

I signed up for an account and haven't made any of my own lists yet, but I'm enjoying clicking around on the site to see what other people are sharing. I think the site is going to become better and better as more people sign up and start building lists--I plan to join in the list-making, too (it's just been a super-busy week for me since I found out about the site!).

Check out Listicle's "about" page for more info about the intent behind the site and the creative ways you can use it.

Meet Ken Mabry, Author of LongTail Blogging Secrets

Ken Mabry is a full-time NASA Engineer, part-time Internet marketing blogger, and owner of LongTailBlogging.com.

1. How did you first become interested in Internet marketing?

Back in 2008 I started researching ways of making some extra money online and came across affiliate marketing. I was working in the IT industry at the time, and I had a good working knowledge of the technologies, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I was surprised at how miserably I failed.

I had zero experience in web site design, layout, copywriting, or any kind of marketing, and it definitely showed.

After about 18 months of trial and error and educating myself on the finer points of SEO, I started to see a little progress. I started climbing the rankings in Google for my buyer keywords. This, in turn, brought more visitors to my site. Then started the next trial and error phase of converting those visitors into tangible sales.

...and I've been hooked ever since.

2. What motivated you to participate in the Empower Network?

Honestly, Empower Network caught me totally by surprise. I'm not even really sure how I first came across it. It was late at night, and I was on one of my web research binge sessions, and I must have coincidentally run across it via a Google search.

I was curious but very suspicious at the same time. Being an affiliate marketer I'd never even considered participating in a multi-level marketing business. I honestly thought they were all scams, but I sat back and decided to watch a few of the video pitches put together by the founders (Dave Wood and Dave Sharpe). Their style was pretty unique, and their message seemed to make sense. Some people may find them a little offensive at times, but I tend to appreciate the raw tell-it-like-it-is approach.

3. What are some common misconceptions that people have about the Empower Network?

Probably the biggest misperception is that the Empower Network is a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Folks that are branding the company as such haven't really researched Empower Network, or they simply don't know what a pyramid scheme really is.

Unlike a pyramid scheme, Empower Network sells real, tangible tools and training to help anyone promote their online interest or business. And the business they're promoting need not be Empower Network. In fact, reselling Empower Network products is not a requirement for membership--it's 100% optional.

4. Why do you think that some Internet marketers find that they are unable to sell any products?

I'll have to apologize in advance, because I'll have to blunt about this. Some people just aren't cut out for it. It takes a lot of persistent, hard work to succeed at making money online. I believe many people are misled by Internet Marketing "gurus" who sell them on the idea of how easy it is to get rich quick using the Internet.

The problem here is that they're only telling folks half the story. You absolutely, positively can get rich quick using the Internet. But... it is FAR from easy.

Many other people that fail have only themselves to blame. It sounds harsh, but it's true.

The "Empower Network Scam" is a great example here. There's no shortage of negative reviews posted online about EN, but to me, they just don't make sense.

With Empower Network you have all of the training and tools you need to become successful. People that have access to these tools and don't use them can't blame the company for their failure. It's like joining a gym, paying your dues for six months, failing to meet your weight loss goals, and then going online and blasting the gym because you didn't get the results you wanted!

5. What is the relationship between effective blogging and successful marketing--and what would you say makes a blog effective?

Well, if by effective you mean profitable, I would say the two main factors that determine your level of success would be 1) your choice of blog topic, and 2) your choice of product.

Ideally, one should pick a single or related set of "buyer keywords"--meaning keywords that someone with a credit card in hand would be searching for--and build your blog around these phrases.

For example, which keyword phrase is likely to be a better "buyer keyword": "Jennifer Aniston pregnancy" or "Empower Network review"?

If my primary product in this example is Empower Network, I know which one I'd choose--even if blogging about Jennifer Aniston did bring me 100x more visitors--because I know that if someone is deliberately searching for "Empower Network Review," they're already interested and may be getting ready to make that purchase. Those are the readers I want on my blog.

Along with your blog topic, you need to pick a viable product. Preferably something with a low return rate. Something scalable—-meaning you can sell 1,000,000 of them as easily as you could sell 10. Think about this: you would have a tough time scaling up if your product was something like homemade furniture--there are only so many chairs you can make yourself in a month. Your time is limited. Whereas my blog sells Empower Network 24x7 on autopilot.

Also, pick a product that pays a large commission. You might think it'd be harder to sell a higher priced product, but that isn't necessarily true. The competition for selling big-ticket items is less, the refund rates are lower, and you simply don't have to sell a LOT of the products to make decent money.

Thanks, Ken!

Meet Mark Bowers, Internet Marketing Expert and Co-Founder of WeedBiz

Mark Bowers is the Marketing Director at Southern Retail Services, Inc and co-founder of WeedBiz.

Mark is a former police officer who turned his attention to the cause of cannabis legalization after leaving law enforcement and believes strongly in building a solid network of cannabusiness professionals as a way to establish a foothold in the emerging legal cannabis industry.

1. How did you decide to start a marketing firm for the legal cannabis industry?

Prior to entering law enforcement, I was a tech support supervisor at a large internet service provider. I learned the technical aspects of web development there and continued building and hosting websites throughout my law enforcement career. After about 10 years I transitioned back in to the "real world" and became interested in SEO and PPC marketing, while at the same time discovering the amazing benefits of medical marijuana. What followed was a natural progression of realizing the enormous potential in the legal cannabis industry.

2. What are some of the particular/unique marketing needs for businesses in this industry?

As legal cannabis spreads throughout the United States and Canada, it is losing some of its taboo, but there are still some challenges that are unique to the industry. For instance, in some cases the product or service we are trying to promote has never existed before so it can be a challenge to zero in on the right keywords to target. A good example of this would be the keyword "cannabusiness." Five years ago there were only 48 instances of that term being used on the internet. Today there are over 65,000. So sometimes you have to make up new words and then teach people what you think they should mean.

3. Do businesses in this field tend to need a particular focus on localized SEO to reach customers in their geographic area, or are people finding benefits in casting a wider net as well?

Local SEO is VITALLY important to businesses that rely on foot traffic, like medical marijuana dispensaries, especially in western states where there is heavy competition. With all the noise in legal cannabis markets, it can be really hard to stand out. We make this happen by developing a written local search plan and executing it with perfection. We have also established relationships with some of the leading dispensary locators online. We know which ones are likely to send traffic to your website and provide you with a solid link, and which ones to stay away from.

4. Do cannabis-related businesses run into any legal issues with their websites and other online activities (such as social media) because of federal drug legislation?

Over the last year the Obama administration has softened their stance on cannabis operations that follow state laws. This summer the Justice Department issued the Holder Memo, which basically said dispensaries that are above-board and follow both the spirit and the letter of the laws in states where cannabis is legal have nothing to worry about. That doesn't mean the potential for prosecution is not there; it just says if you follow the rules, you should be OK. Besides that, many of our clients don't sell cannabis; they provide ancillary products and services to the cannabis industry that are not illegal under federal law.

5. What is the best way for someone who is interested in selling medical marijuana to get into the industry?

As the trend for legalization and decriminalization moves east (cannabis is currently legal either for recreational or medicinal use in 20 states and the District of Columbia), we are seeing new rules being devised by state officials that make getting into the business a lot more difficult. For instance, if you wanted to open a dispensary in California five years ago, all you needed was about $10k and a half pound of good bud. But the eastern states don't want a free-for-all, so they tend to set the bar much higher. For instance, it is believed that "ganjapreneurs" who want to open a dispensary in Illinois in 2014 will need to have close to $500k on hand and go through a grueling vetting process for what really amounts to just a handful of permits.

My number one piece of advice once you are sure this is the industry you want to be in is to lock down a reputable dispensary consultant. They are going to cost you a lot of money (figure on at least $50k in states like Illinois and Massachusetts), but the payoff can be huge, so you definitely want someone that knows what they are talking about to guide you.

Thanks, Mark!

Meet Marc Heighway, Entrepreneur and SEO Expert

Marc Heighway is the owner of SEO Expert Bournemouth, one of the leading SEO agencies on the south coast of the UK. His company offers SEO services to Bournemouth businesses and companies that want to achieve higher search engine rankings and improve their online visibility. Learn more about Marc's services in the following video.

You can also watch this Expert SEO Bournemouth video directly on YouTube.

1. In your career, how did you first get into working with SEO?

I first started building small websites back in 1998 when the Web was a very different place. Google didn't even exist, and the search engines that did were quite easy to manipulate to make your website get listed high in the rankings. When Google came along a few years later, things began to change, and suddenly it became a more of a science to get your website ranking high. With more and more businesses coming online, the competition for search space increased which meant the theory and strategy behind SEO became much more specialist.

As I continued to build websites in my early twenties, it became clear to me that if I wanted these websites to succeed, then I would need to become very proficient in SEO myself. Over the years, I worked with a network of fellow SEO enthusiasts who shared new ideas and strategies on search engine optimization, continually testing new approaches as Google continued to roll out their incremental algorithm updates.

From a professional perspective, I was working full-time for an American company called Garmin; they are the leading GPS and satellite navigation company globally. I was their Online Marketing Manager for Europe and was living and working in Switzerland for a few years, managing a European web team. This gave me some excellent opportunities to test various SEO techniques with the team in what is a very competitive market. We were able to do this across multiple languages and countries which really gave some invaluable insights into SEO.

2. What are the benefits to companies when it comes to working with a SEO company local to them?

A local SEO company, such as Expert SEO Bournemouth, has an advantage over larger SEO companies because they know local business and local people. They should also have a good network of local contacts, all of which can be invaluable when it comes to finding relevant and local back-linking opportunities which are all part of the mix when it comes to achieving better search engine listings.

Also, you can't beat face to face regular contact with a client. Most of the clients Expert SEO Bournemouth work for, and also those of the FIMA Digital parent company I manage in Southampton, were first met over a coffee for an informal chat. My team build solid relationships with our customers--the ethos behind Expert SEO Bournemouth is that it serves as a strategic partner for clients rather than a traditional outsourced SEO company.

3. Why does SEO keep changing so much?

Unfortunately there are also some very unscrupulous people working in the search engine optimization business who try to play the system to get results. This kind of approach to SEO is known as "black hat" in the industry. The culprits tend to find a loop-hole in the search engine ranking calculations, and then abuse that. A couple of years ago you could rank a website by sending thousands of back-links to it, no matter what the quality or relevancy. This of course, meant that spammers could easily rank a website above a genuine business which offered a visitor true value.

Google has thankfully caught on to methods like this, and because of that is continually updating how search engine listings are calculated. This means that even for reputable SEOs, the way the search engines rank content is changing regularly.

Not only that, but the way in which users expect to find search results are changing. Social media is a very relevant factor nowadays, and over the coming year users will probably start to see search results based on social factors as well--so for example, if your friend recommends a business, then it might have some preference in the listings that you see.

In truth, there are many current factors influencing the current state of the search engines and SEO. As technology advances and the way in which we demand and view online content changes, then the landscape will continually shift. Expert SEO Bournemouth are thankfully at the coal-face of those changes and are constantly adapting working practices and strategy to benefit our clients.

4. What particular specialties does your company offer?

As a search engine optimization company we perform all the typical functions you would expect from an SEO agency. What I believe sets us apart from the competition is the expert level of knowledge we have and also the fact that we focus purely on SEO. SEO isn't part of larger portfolio of services that we offer--it's the only service we offer. It's not diluted with other digital marketing disciplines. The reason is quite simple: SEO is what our staff are trained in and they only use the most cutting-edge and advanced SEO techniques. I genuinely believe that you won't find a more dedicated and knowledgeable group of SEO people on the south coast of the UK which is why I am so proud of the team.

For local businesses we become an extension of their company and a real trusted asset. A lot of the companies we are currently working for are very focused on local listings. Google now offers up more relevant search results based upon where a user is located. As an example, this means that if a user searches for "web design," then they will get results including local web design agencies. This means more of our clients want us working on getting their local search engine rankings optimized, including influencing factors such as Google Places, business listings, and physical address citations.

5. If you could give just three pieces of advice to small business owners when it comes to working on their website and developing good online content, what would you say?

Firstly, try to think inside the mind of the customer. Try to think about what they need and what they might be searching for. Do your research, because once you know that the customer wants, then it becomes a lot easier to develop content for them. If your online web content reads like it's been developed for a search engine, with keyword stuffing, and over optimized SEO content, then it's not going to read well to a customer. Search engines are now not as easily fooled by this approach either, so keep it natural, keep it compelling, and make sure that it is unique quality content.

Secondly, I deal with so many businesses who developed their website and simply cut and pasted their corporate brochure online. Whilst of course this is going to be a far quicker and cheaper approach then developing bespoke web content, it is a huge mistake. From a user experience perspective, the way in which users read on-screen content and the way they read a printed page is vastly different. Online web content needs to be broken up with headings, smaller informational chunks, bullet points, numbered lists, and so on. This enables the user to scan for the information they need and read the web page a lot easier without the dreaded "click back" when you might lose them to a competitor.

Finally, invest in SEO. That should encompass on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and a social media strategy. The old adage "if we build it, they will come" could not be further from the truth when it comes to the highly competitive world of the Web. Your website needs to be optimized so it stands the best chance of beating the competition in search.

Thanks, Marc!

Meet Roman Sahakov, CEO of Frozzo

Roman Sahakov is the CEO of the social media marketing company, Frozzo. He is known as a wise, patient, and knowledgeable leader. Roman cherishes his family dearly and is a devoted father to his son and a loving husband to his wife.

Frozzo social media agency offers different types of social media metrics that contribute greatly in the growth of any type of launched campaign. Those can be Twitter followers, YouTube views, and Facebook fans.

The company was founded in 2010 and since then it has followed a road of great development and improvement. It seems that Frozzo marketing company is going to be the next social superstar. Headquartered in London, UK, the company has already created buzz among internet marketers, webmasters, businesspeople, artists, and almost anyone who needs social media coverage.

For more information, follow Frozzo on Twitter and like it on Facebook.

1. What benefits have clients seen after working with Frozzo?

Frozzo has come up with a comprehensive social media marketing solution for internet marketers, businesspeople, artists, and webmasters. The web-based platform works with three major social media websites, namely: Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. This amazing social media marketing service will help you get thousands of followers, views, and active fans.

This means, you won't have to wait for a social buzz or exposure: Frozzo is able to lift your brand name right away. Furthermore, to add to the prospect of increase in popularity in a short time span, you get it for a very low price.

2. Why do you think people are more likely to like/follow someone who already has followers, rather than be the first to discover a new product or artist?

People love to follow the social media stars: your followers and fans will bring more clients.

Have you ever noticed your own view about the social media stars? You'll more likely follow people or businesses that have already grown a good client base. This definitely indicates the importance of fans and followers in your account. Investing for a few thousands of active users will potentially help grow your social signals stronger and more positive.

Becoming a social media star isn't a challenge for those who use Frozzo. You just have to select a suitable package and you will get the social exposure almost instantly. The exposure will let your social marketing operation go on autopilot and start generating targeted social traffic in no time.

3. With Google penalizing sites for selling links and other companies taking similar measures, how does Frozzo provide followers without putting the client at risk?

Frozzo is concerned about the shocking search engine penalties.

Recently, the search engines have become more concerned about low quality websites with irrelevant or fluffy content. Google, the leading search engine, has already come up with few major updates in the algorithms and rankings. Some websites have been hit so hard by the search engines that the webmasters are trying to change their SEO plans and strategies.

Frozzo is concerned about the penalties. It neither sells links nor spreads spammy anchors online. It has developed a loyal social group who are ready to help their clients grow. The natural sharing on the social platform can easily create positive non-spammy social signals, and that's how Frozzo marketing company protects its customers.

4. How can a customer make the best use of Frozzo's resources and services?

Frozzo has already built a huge follower base of 100,000, and the number is still on the rise. You simply have to select an offer that suits your marketing budget and business strategy.

Choosing a single platform won't help you a lot to rank on the search engines. Rather you should concentrate on all three platforms and get social signals from multiple resources. This is the only way how you can use the most of Frozzo. If you're only subscribing to one-platform service, consider trying all of them together.

5. How did you personally become interested in social media marketing, and what do you see in the future for Frozzo?

Social media marketing is the future of IM: Frozzo is definitely going big in upcoming years.

Experts are saying that SEO and internet marketing will mostly depend on the social websites in next upcoming years. We are entering a new age of user-oriented search engines. In such conditions, Frozzo is definitely going to grow bigger and more powerful over time. As social media marketing is the future of IM, Frozzo is going to be the ultimate destination for the internet marketers around the world.

Thanks, Roman!

Meet Dion of Ackwired

Ackwired is a web startup marketplace where users can buy and sell established online businesses. Ackwired functions as an aggregator and an easy to use self-listing platform. Keep up with the company's latest news by following their Twitter feed.

1. What is the main purpose of Ackwired, and what inspired you to start it?

There are hundreds of millions of websites in the world, and as you would expect, there is an upwards trend towards businesses and individuals wanting to sell or acquire these websites. Being an end user of the current marketplaces that allow you to buy and sell websites, it was extremely time-consuming to find quality listings. As a user you had to spend huge amounts of time filtering through hundreds of over-priced, uninteresting, and fake listings just to find those few hidden gems.

It was then the idea of "Ackwired" was born.

We launched with the vision of providing our users (who are investors, entrepreneurs, and developers) with a marketplace that the lists only the most exciting websites and startups currently on the market.

2. Could you describe the curated experience provided by Ackwired and how this distinguishes it from other venues for buying and selling websites?

Providing quality listings to our users is our number one objective. We have developed a web crawler that searches through the internet to find all of the most interesting websites based on a variety of metrics including traffic, industry, activity, profitability, and pricing. Then, what differentiates Ackwired from its competitors is that every listing is reviewed, enhanced, and then approved by a real human being.

Obviously we also provide users with a platform to list their website for sale directly on Ackwired--however, we focus on established websites or exciting web startups. All of these listings go through the same review process. We work with business on copywriting and imagery to really promote their listing on Ackwired.

There is no other platform in the market that currently provides this kind of service.

3. What are some tips you recommend to people who want to establish a strong website to be able to sell it on your site?

We look for a range of criteria which can include the following.

--The length of time your website has been established for. We are looking for at least 12 months of operation.
--Do you have a quality engaged user base?
--We love bespoke websites that offer an innovative solution to a problem.
--We like websites that have a great idea, but maybe haven't been marketed to the best of their ability; they offer our buyers with some great opportunities.

We have recently written a blog post that dives into this subject in more detail.

4. Do you find that people have any misconceptions about buying and selling domains?

It's a big business as the value of a domain always goes up due to the ever-increasing demand for domains. It is a lot harder now, but buying a domain, placing some ads, and sitting on it for a few years before flipping it, used to be a great way to make money.

But if you are a serious entrepreneur, investing in a domain, building a website, and establishing a profitable business will return far greater results financially in the long run. It is a lot harder to do--and not everyone has the motivation and skills to do it.

At Ackwired we list very few domains for sale. We believe true value is in an established website with a proven or potentially viable business and revenue model. The existing marketplace for buying and selling purely domains is really cluttered at the moment. We believe the internet should be about quality websites providing quality information to its users; selling domains goes against what our company currently stands for.

5. What are your goals for the future of Ackwired, both in terms of developing your business and being able to give charitable contributions to organizations like Oxfam?

We have so many new features on the roadmap for Ackwired: it's a matter of researching the most valuable to our users and pushing them out. It's going to be a very exciting year for us. Some of our upcoming projects include multilingual support, private listings, as well as a specialized section for smart phone apps. We are also looking to sponsor a few web startup events around the world.

As our business grows, we hope to be able to raise awareness about the charities we support, and obviously continue to increase the donations we can make. We have a few incentive programs in the pipeline as well, to get more of our community on board in the not too distant future.

Thanks, Dion!

Meet Naser Abdulghani, Game Designer and Entrepreneur

Naser Abdulghani is an internet and multimedia entrepreneur who has recently launched his new Maryland-based start-up company, Jokerware LLC, specializing in mobile games and application development. Naser works alongside his creative team on a creating and launching new, challenging, and fun games that appeal to almost every type of gamer. Naser has launched his first ever mobile game "Love Gears" and is willing to launch more games in the near future.

Download Love Gears from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

1. What was your inspiration in designing your first mobile game, Love Gears?

I've always been a fan of mobile games that I play during my free time which I consider as a mind sport. I always look for a game that joins simplicity, fun, and challenge, and this is where the idea of creating my own game came from. 

  2. What are the unique challenges in creating a mobile app, as opposed to a game that would be played on a larger screen?

Mobiles are very easy to be carried around wherever you go, so the need for mobile games is much more higher than larger screen games; therefore, the competence to stand out from the crowd is higher and more difficult. There are hundreds of thousands of mobile games available at reasonable prices, so the tricky part is to design a game that fits perfectly with the taste of players. 

3. How did you get started in designing games, and what would you suggest other people do if they are interested in making games themselves?

Mobile games are today's trend, and there are many good and bad games out there. The idea behind the game should be unique and fun. I would advise people to innovate and be creative when it comes to designing games. People who download games are smart and would not fall for replication or boring ideas.

4. Who do you think would especially enjoy Love Gears? Are there other popular games you might compare it to?

Love Gears is designed to match the taste of people who like challenging, addictive games: people who like to think while they play and spend their time in something fun and useful. Love Gears is suitable for all family members especially those who like to challenge each other. Our game has been compared to "Cut the Rope" which flatters us and makes us proud as start-ups to be compared to such a successful game. 

5. What's next for Jokerware?

This was our first game, but stay tuned for more interesting competing games.

Thanks, Naser!